(no subject)

[equal_of_any_man]

{From here}

Olivier opens the door into a pleasant spring day. The sun warms the first buds on the trees and the freshly tilled earth in the fields beyond smells rich and warm.

They are in the woods just beyond Athelstan and Ragnar's holding, stepping out of a circle of stones.

"I should have known it was a doorway." Olivier smiles. "Perhaps the ancients of this land knew the bar too."

Mary squeaks with delight as a butterfly passes them, wriggling in Athelstan's arms to be put down.

Comments

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar shrugs minimally, dips some bread into the sauce, eats it one-handedly while still holding little Mary, and cocks an eyebrow at Athelstan.

[athelstanthescribe]

He's stopped meeting anybody's eyes.

"Probably better if we stay here. It's late."

[equal_of_any_man]

Ermina offers them a warm smile. "Well, I'm very grateful to have you here. And I promise to put Mary to bed so you get some sleep."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Oh, I am used to sleeping with kids all over me," Ragnar says. "Human ones, and occasionally even literal ones."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods.

"If she wakes again and comes to find us, that would be all right."

[equal_of_any_man]

"You're too kind to our very spoilt daughter." Olivier smiles, starting to clear their finished plates only to be batted away by a maid.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"You're not allowed to do housework any more, either?" Ragnar says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"He's the lord of the manor", Athelstan says lightly. "If he does everything, what will the servants do?"

[equal_of_any_man]

The maid laughs. "He has had to learn how to be a lord of the manor. And not bustle into the kitchen and wash his own dishes."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I used to like doing housework, too," Ragnar says. "Washing my own clothes, cleaning fish, chopping wood or cooking meals when Lagertha was gone or busy with something else or just..."

He shrugs.

"And keeping the place clean while doing it, because otherwise, she'd be angry at me. We lived in a house, not a pigsty, after all. Even while we were just farmers."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods and says quietly, "Still, society has its expectations."

[equal_of_any_man]

"Expectations I need to learn to understand. If I am to be the leader the estate needs of me." Olivier agrees, looking to his wife. Ermina smiles and leans over to kiss Olivier's cheek.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Especially if it would be faster to just do it yourself," Ragnar says. "Aslaug had been bothering me a lot about after she came to Kattegat and Lagertha left."

[athelstanthescribe]

"That depends on how much you can trust your servants to do it right."

[equal_of_any_man]

"I trust Ermina to manage the household staff." Olivier nods, "She understands how to do such things. And I trust those under this roof."

Ermina leans over to Ragnar. "I take it Aslaug is something of a controlling influence in your household?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Is she ever," Ragnar says. "She's a princess, and that says it all."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan falls silent, out of things to say.

[equal_of_any_man]

Olivier notices Athelstan's silence and changes the subject. "Perhaps it's time to go up? You both look like you could do with a good night's sleep."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Shouldn't we just stay here with the sleeping little lady?" Ragnar says. "Or do we take her upstairs and curl up with her so you two get a solid night's uninterrupted sleep?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes, we could do that. With all her energy, I'm sure you need it."

[equal_of_any_man]

The look of hope and relief on Ermina's face is unmistakable. "Would you mind if she slept with you tonight? Even just for a little while?" Please!

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"All night, if she wants to stay," Ragnar says.

[athelstanthescribe]

"If she wakes again, we can sing her back to sleep."

[equal_of_any_man]

There is nothing but love in Ermina's expression. Love and gratitude. "Thank you. Thank you so much." She rushes in to hug Athelstan and Ragnar in utter relief.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar hugs her back. "Don't wake the little lady," he says, still holding her.